Max Kepler returns, only to exit after aggravating injured hamstring

Max Kepler returned to the Twins lineup Saturday, playing right field and batting leadoff. A hamstring injury had been limiting his time to either days off, designated hitter appearances or some short outfield outings. Saturday ended up being the latter.

He pulled up with a mild left hamstring strain trying to run out a ground ball in the second inning. Miguel Sano swiftly replaced him, with Alex Kirilloff vacating first base for right field.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said he expects Kepler will "miss some time" with this injury, especially with it taking such a turn from Kepler being "90 to 95 percent" recovered to now facing a potential injured list stint. He also said Kepler would have an MRI soon to see if there is anything else going on in his thigh.

Baldelli also is bracing for a slower return for two other injured-list players: utility man Luis Arraez and starting pitcher Kenta Maeda.

Baldelli said Arraez would be "a couple weeks" with a subluxation — a partial dislocation — of his right shoulder, which he hurt sliding into second base on an attempted steal in Cleveland last weekend. While he played through it for a bit, the pain didn't diminish, and imaging revealed the further issue.

Maeda went on the injured list with a right adductor strain after his last start in Cleveland. He threw a light bullpen session Friday but was not at 100%, per Baldelli.

"He could be a little bit longer than the original timetable," Baldelli said.

But his demotion isn't typical.

"He's also going to be throwing some bullpens, and all of his outings are not necessarily going to be just simply going down and getting right in games," Baldelli said. "He's going to go and actually work on a few things in the bullpen, getting to his glove side better and more consistently.

"That slider of his, it's a real weapon. It's just been an inconsistent weapon this year, more so than it has been in the past. So both the physical aspect of syncing up his delivery, but also the mental aspect of really focusing each pitch."

Stashak will hope to come back to the major league level for a chance to improve his 6.89 ERA and 10 walks in 15⅔ innings pitched.

In his place, the Twins called up righthander Juan Minaya, 30, who has a 5.11 ERA and 1-2 record through seven games with the Saints. He pitched in 125 games with the Chicago White Sox from 2016-19. To make space for Minaya on the 40-man roster, the Twins designated righthander Dakota Chalmers for release or assignment. He has appeared in five games with Double-A Wichita this season and has a 9.49 ERA.

His first-inning ground ball that rolled through the left side of the infield for a single seemed like just a much-needed base hit for the third baseman. But it ended up being a piece of history.

When Nelson Cruz hit a ground-rule double two batters later, Donaldson scored Major League Baseball's 2 millionth run.

Back in 1975 when Bob Watson scored the 1 millionth run, it was a much-anticipated feat. When Donaldson scored Saturday, it felt run-of-the-mill. Still, maybe it will help Donaldson find some momentum. He said on May 22 he has used a two-strike approach this season along with other adjustments. But he still has struggled with how a pitcher's delivery affects his timing,